Electric switch.



PATBNTED MAR. 22, 1904.

N. MARSHALL. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION rum) OUT. 6, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

nn sense-o.

TATE$ ATTUN 0F MAINE.

Patented itft'arch 3, 319mb RSHALL, 0F NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNQR T0 all SANDERS QQMPANY, OF

BOSTGN, MASSACHUSETTS, A

annotate sen-roe.

forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,886, dated March 8, 1904;.

Application filed October 6,1903. Beriel filo. 175,950. (Ho model.)

To ail whom zit may concern:

Ee it known that l, NORMAN MARsHALL, of Newton, in county of Middlesex and State or? Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful lira rovements in Electric Switches, of which the billowing is a specification.

The invention relates to electric snapswitches in which the rotation of the spindle tensions the spring for operating the switchplate and also operates a catch which by its engagement with a series of stops restrains the switch-plate nntil the spring has been tensioned and also determines the movement of the switch-plate after it is released.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction which shall be compact, simple, eficient, and durable when made on the small scale required in this class of switches; and to this end the invention consists in the features and combinations set forth in the claims. 7

the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows an elevation of a snap-switch embodying the invention, a part of the insulatingbase being broken away. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 on Fig. 5, the collar 16 being shown in plan. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 4: is a vertical section on line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5, Fig. 3. Figs. 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figs.

2 and 3, showing amodified construction. Fig.

8 is a vertical section on line 8 8, Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9 9, Fig. 7.

As shown in the drawings, the switch is provided with aninsulating-base 1, to which the stationary contacts and binding-posts '2 *are secured and which also supports the other parts of the switch. Theswitch-plate 3, which carries the movable contacts 4, is loosely mounted on a spindle 5 and is connected therewith by means of a spring 6. One end of the spring is connected with the spindle by engaging a lug '7 carried thereby, and the other end of the spring is connected with the switchplste engaging a lug 8 formed thereon. The switch is provided with depending 9, which form guides, between which porting-bearing for the spindle 5. When the spindle 5'is turned, the spring 6 is tensioned and by itsconnection with the switch-plate 3 tends to turn said plate about the spindle. The switch-plate is held from rotation, however, by the engagement of the catch 11 with one of the teeth 12. The rotation of the spindle not only tensions the spring, but also slides the catchplate 10 in its guides to carry the catch 11 along the tooth 12 until the catch is disengaged from the tooth, when the spring 6 will suddenly rotate the switch-plate about the spindle. The forward rotation of the catch-plate with the switch-plate carries the catch 11 into engagement with the next tooth 12, which determines the position of the catch-plate and the connected switch-plate.

The sliding movements of the catch-plate in its guides are produced whenever there is a relative rotation between the spindle and catch-plate by a pin-and-slot connection between the spindle and catch-plate arranged to move between the spindle and the edge of the catch-plate in the direction of the sliding movement of the catch-plate.

In the construction'shown in Figs. 2 to 5 the pin-and-slot connection between the spindle and catch-plate consists of a crank-pin 15, depending from a flange 16 on the'spindle and engaging a transverseslot l? in the catchplate. The flange 16 is in the form of a disk and lies within a circular recess formed in the under side of the switch-plate 3, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. The catch-plate is provided with an opening 18, extending lengthwise of the plate, through which the spindle 5 extends, and the slot 17 extends laterally from this opening.

Supposing the parts to he in the position shown in Fig. 2 and that the spindle 5 is rotat'ed from left to right, the pin 15 will move forward and by its engagement with the front side of the slot 17 will move the slide. forward with it until at the end of a quarterrevolution the catch 11 will be disengaged from the tooth 12. The spring will now act to quickly rotate the switch-plate and catchplate about the spindle, and during this rotation the pin 15 Will act against the rear side of the slot 17 and retract the catch-plate, so that the catch 11 will engage the succeeding tooth 12. The movable parts will now be in the same relation as shown in Fig. 2, but 'advanced through a quarter-revolution. When the switch is to be again operated, the spindle is again turned through a quarter-revolution and the above operation is repeated.

1 In the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 9 .the pin-and-slot connection between the spin-v dle and the catch plate consists of a pin 15, projecting upward from the catch-plate and engaging a radial slot 17, formed in a disk 16 on the spindle. The disk 16 lies in a recess-in the under face of theswitch-plate 3, and the switch-plate is also recessed to-accommodate the'movements of the pin 15, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7-. The catchplate 10 is provided with an opening 18, extending lengthwise of the plate, through which the spindle 5 extends.

Supposing the parts to be in the .position shown in Fig. 6 and the spindle be turned from. left to right,.the slot 17 will be advanced between the spindle and the side of the catch-plate and 'by' its engagement with the rear side of the pin 15" will advance the catch-plate until the catch 11" is disengaged from the tooth 12. The spring 6 will then rotate the switch-plate and catch-plate about the spindle, and the slot 17 will act against the front side ofthe pin 15 to retract the catch-plate, so that the catch 11 will engage ment of either the pin or slot, as the case may be, with relation to the switch-plate is between the spindle and the side of the catchplate and in the direction of the sliding movement of the catch-plate. By thus arranging the pin-and-slot connection a compact construction is provided which will efiectively move the catch-plate through the distance requisitein an efiicient and reliable construction of switch.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric switchthe combination of a stop-plate, a switch'-plate,'a catch-plate connected with said switch-plate, a spindle provided with a projection, and a pin-and-slot connection betwe an the projection and catchplate arranged to move between the spindle and side of the catch-plate in the direction of movement of the catch-plate upon relative ro- 5 tation between the spindle and catch-plate, substantially as described.

2. In an electric switch the combination of a stop=plate, a switch*plate-, a catch-plate connected with the switchplate. a spindle, a 7 flange on the spindle, a radial slot in said flange, and a pin on the catch-plate engagingsaid slot, substantially as described.

3. Inan electric switch the combination of a stop-plate, a switch-plate, a-catch-plate con- 75 nected with said switch-plate, a spindle provided with a projecting flange, a connection between the flange and catch-plate consisting of a pin projecting from one part into a slot in the other part and arranged to move be- 80 tween the spindle and side oiithe catch-plate in the direction of movement of the catchplate upon relative rotation between the spin- IRA L. FISH, KATHARINE A. DUGAN. 

